Counter-molding machine



Sept. 14 1926.

A. F. JONES couNTEiz MOLDING MACHINE 10 Sheets-ShEt 1 Filed April 12. 1924 Sept. 1 v 1926.

A. F. JONES COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 12. 1924 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept.14,1926. 1,599,617 A. F. JONES COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE Filed' April 12. 1924 1 Sheet-SheTet' 5 A. F. JONES COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 12. 1924 l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 14, 1926. 1,599,617

A. F. JONES COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE I m MK 4 I ji'zvehior.

Sept. 14 1926.

- A. F. JONES coum'sa MOLDING mcnmm Filed April 12. 1924 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 14 192e 1,599,617 A. F. JONES COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 12 1924 10 Sheets-Sh't '7 Spt. 14 1926.

A. F. JONES COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 12. 1924 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 f y m0 Sept. 14 ,1926. 1,599,617

' A. F. JQNES COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 12. 1924 Q 228 137w. f?

Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,617

A. F. JONES COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE l0 ShBetS -Sheet 1O Patented Sept. 14:, 1926.

urrsn s'ra'rss ALBERT F. JONES, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

COUNTER-MOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed April 12 This invention relates to automatic counter molding machines of the type shown by my Letters Patent No. 1,381,126 dated June 14, 1921, in which counter blanks supplied to the machine by an attendant are dealt with automatically by the machine and converted into molded and flanged counters.

The object of the invention is to provide improved conveying mechanism whereby the l I J attendant is enabled to supply the machine with a considerable number of blanks arranged in a row or procession of separate bunches or groups, which are advanced su cessively to a point where the blanks of a group are taken up one by one and formed, the procession remaining at rest until a given group has been disposed of, and then moved forward to advance another group to position to have its blanks taken up I Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is an elevation showing one side of my improved machine.

Figures 1" and 1 are fragmentary enff. largements of portions of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is an elevation showing the opposite side.

Figure 3 is an enlargement of portions of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of one of the conveyor chains.

Figure 1 is a section on line l-4i of Figure 1 looking toward the left.

Figure 5 is a section on line of Figure 1 looking toward the left.

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary views illustrating the operation of bending a counter blank.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 show portions of the mechanism for operating the conveyor chains, and the ram hereinafter described.

Figures 8 and 8 are detail views hereinafter referred to.

Figure 11 is a plan view showing portions of the conveyor chains.

Figure 12 is a transverse vertical section looking toward the forming dies.

Figure 13 is a transverse vertical section looking toward the transferring table hereinafter described, and the table supporting frame.

Figure 14: is a longitudinal vertical section showing the forming dies and the wiper.

liigure lfi is a View similar to pc ti 1924. Serial No. 706,138.

of Figure 14:, showing different positions of certain parts.

Figures 16 and 17 are fragmentary detail views.

Figures 18 and 19 are enlargements of portions of Figure 1, showing the flange wiper operating mechanism.

Figure 20 shows the mechanism shown by Figure 18 looking from a different point.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary detail.

Figure 22, 22 28, 2 1 and 25 are views illustrating the transferring table and the mechanism for opening and closing the movable blank gripping jaws carried by the table.

Figures 26 and 27 are elevations showing the forming dies.

Figure 28 is a side view of a counter blank.

Figure 29 is a perspective view of a-completed coimter. 1

Fixed to loose shafts 12 (Figure 1) journalled in fixed bearings 18 on the frame of the machine are two outer sprocket wheels 1 1, and two inner sprocket wheels15, (Figure 11). The outer wheels 1 1 carry two sprocket chains 16 and the inner wheels 15 carry two sprocket chains 17, the chains being shown conventionally excepting in Figure 3'. The horizontal upper stretches of the chains slide on a fixed horizontal guide.

18 (Figures 1 and 8). Each chain is provided with a series of spaced apart fingers 19 which are riveted to ears 20 (Figure formed on some of the chain links and stand perpendicular to the guided stretches of the chain. Each outer chain 16 and the adjacent inner chain 17 constitute a pair of conveyor chains, there being two pairs. The clamshelled blanks 7) to be molded are deposited by the operator in groups on the chains between the lingers, so that when the chains are moved forward, the fingers cause the blanks to move with the chains.

The object of employing two pairs of chains is to enable blanks of any desired 1 width to be engaged at their forward edges by fingers on the outer chains 16 and at their rear edges by fingers on the inner chains 17, as shown by Figure 11, the spaces between the engaging fingers of the outer chains and those on the inner chains being variable by longitudinally adjusting the inner chains. This adjustment may be effected by loosening set screws '21. (Figure 11) securing the hubs of the inner sprocket wheels 15 to the loose shafts 12, partially rotating said wheels, thus longitudinally adjusting the inner chains with relation to the outer chains, and then tightening the set screws to maintain the adjustment. The spacing of the fingers 19 on each chain is greater than the maximum width of any blank, each blank bearing at its forward edge on two fingers on the outer chains and at its rear edge on two fingers on the inner chains. 7

A step by-step movement is imparted to the conveyor chains by areci procating hook (Figures 1 and 3) formed to engage the oieninge in links of one of the conveyor 0 ains, said links being; in the lower stretches of the chains. A movement of the hook in the direction of the arrow at in Figure 3 causes it to move the chains sufficiently to locate a group of blanks between the blank ram and the blank lifter hereinafter described, the chains being connected to move in unison. The return movement of the hook causes it to engage another chain link, the hook being loosely pivoted at 23 to an oscillating lever hereinafter described. The hook is adapted to slide on the chain during the return movement, and to drop into a link at the end of said move ment. The hook 22 is reciprocated by antomatic mechanisn which is operative only when the last blank of the foremost group has been transferred from the conveyor chains and will be described hereinafter, it being; sufficient for the present to say that the blanks of the foremost group are lifted from the group one by one to be formed, and that when all the blanks of the group have been lifted the hook 22 moves the conveyor chains one step, so that another group is located in position to permit the successive lifting of the blanks thereof. The forward edges of the blanks of the forward group are evened or rendered flush with each other by an. oscillatory evening finger .24 (Figure 3) adapted to abut against and even the forward edges of the blanks and then recede therefrom.

The forward group of blanks Z) is located vcr a vertically movable ram 25 (Figure 3) carried by a rod 26 which is slidable ina fixed guide 27. When the ram is in its lowest position, it is under the foremost group of blanks and is adapted to raise said group as indicated by Figure 3, mechanism being provided as hereinafter described for raising the ram at intervals. The rod 26 has a weight 28 at its lower end, and is connected through the weight with one end of a chain 29, the other end of which is attached to the periphery of a drum 3O constituting an element of the rain-operating mechanism described hereinafter. 50 (Figures 1 and designates a reciprocating lifter which "is movable in a vertical path in alignment with that of the ram 25 and is provided with spurs 51 adapted to impale the top blank of the foremost group when the lifter descends, and lift the blank when the lifter rises. The lifter is carried by a bar 52 (Figure 1) attached to a vertical rack bar 53. The rack teeth of said bar mesh with a pinion 54 on. a rock shaft 56 which is journalled in fixed bearings 57. The rock shaft is rocked in its. bearings to reciprocate the lifter through the rack and pinion by mechanism including a vertical power driven cam shaft 58 (Figures 2 and 12) having a cam 59, a bell crank lever fulcrumed on a fixed vertical rod 60, and having an arm 61 carrying a trundle roll bearin on the cam 59, and an arm 62 carrying a stud 63, a chain 65 connecting the stud 63 with a drum 66, on the rock shaft 56, and a weight '67 suspended from the drum 66 by a chain 68. The weight 67 tends to turn the rock shaft in the direction required to raise the lifter 50. The cam 59 acts through the described connections to turn the rock shaft 56 in the opposite direction and depr es the lifter. To permit the lifter 50 to yield when moving downward, so that when engaging the top blank of a group having more than the intended number no injurious strain or breakage results, I provide a torsion spring 56 fixed at one end to a collar 56 fixed to the rock shaft 56, and at its other end to a loose collar 56 (Figure 4). The loose collar has a slot 56, the ends of which form spaced apart stops betwee; which a pin 56 fixed to the rock shaft is adapted to play. When the chain is pulled to lower the lifter, the spring 56 and collar 56 enable the lifter to yield when in its downward movement it encounters an unusually high blank. hen the lifter is fully raised a blank 6 impaled thereon, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 6, is held horizontally considerably elevated above the conveyor chains. hen the blank is thus elevated, two supporting rolls El) are moved under the central portion of the blank, and two bending rolls 71 are moved inpaths indicated by the dotted arrows n: 6, against the blank, the movement rolls 71 being continued until a it imparted to the blank, The bend? eration detaches the central portion f. the blank from the lifter 50 and causes it to bulge as shown by Figure 7 the supporting rolls arresting the bulp d portion The supporting rolls are loosely mounted studs 72' fined to the free end of an oscillatory arm 73, shown by Figure 1, and by dotted lines in Figure The arm 73 is adapted to oscillate loosely on a horzontal rock-shaft 74 journaled in fixed bearings 7 (Figure 1). The arm Tet is provided with a weight 7 6 which tends to force the supporting rolls forward under the blank. This action of the weight is permitted only when the blank is raised, and is prevented at other times by an oscillatory arm 77, which has another function described later, and fixed to the rock shaft 74c and oscillated with the latter by mechanism including a cam 79 on the shaft 58, a drum 8-0 (Figures 2 and 4) fixed to the rock shaft 7 1:, connections between the cam and the drum similar to those between the cam 59 drum 66 including a chain 83 connected with the drum and a weight 84% secured to the rock shaft 74 and tending to move the supporting rolls 70 under the raised blank. This movement is permitted at the proper int rvals by the cam '59 and tne described connections.

The arms 76 connecting the weight 76 with the arm 73 carrying the supporting rolls is provided with a stud 85 which bears on the arm 77 as indicated by Figure 1 when said arm is retracted, so that the arm 7'? prevents the arm 73 and the supporting rolls 70 from swinging forward.

Another function of the arm 77 is to carry two presser feet 86 which are adapted to bear against the rear edge of the bent blank and force its forward edge firmly against the oscillatory transferring table hereinafter described. Said presser feet are secured to the swinging. end of the arm 77 and are faced with yielding material, so that they do not indent the edge of the blank.

The bender rolls 71 are loosely mounted on elbow-shaped arms 91 (Figures 1 and 1*) fixed to the forward ends of short rock shafts 92 journalled in fixed bearings 93 and provided at their opposite ends with. bevel gears 94. A rock shaft 95 (Figure 5) journalled in fixed bearings is provided with bevel. gears 96 meshing with the gears 94. The rock shaft 95 is rocked and caused to oscillate the bender rolls through the describet connections by mechanism best shown in Figures 2 and 5, including a cam 9 (Figures 2 and 1.2) on the shaft 58, a drum 9'? (Figure 5) fixed to the rock shaft 95, connections between the cam and the drum similar to those between the cam 59 and drum 66 and including a chain 98 (Figures 2 and 5) connected with the drum, and a weight 98 suspended by a chain 98 from the drum 9? (Figures 2 and 5).

hen the blank is bent as shown by Figure 6, a pair of notched reciprocating eveners S? descend upon its ends and move the blank downward upon the supporting rolls. In case the ends of the blank are not at the height as shown by Figure 6, one of the cveners depresses the higher end and raises the lower end until the ends are at th sa .e height as shown Figure 7. The .s are tired to oscillatory arms 88 (Figure 5) which are secured to a rock shaft 89 (Figures 1, 2.and The mechanism for rocking the rock shaft and thus .de ressin and raisin the eveners includes a cam 90 on the shaft 58, a weight 89 acting directly on. the rock shaft 89 and tending to lower the eveners, and connections between the cam and the rock shaft similar to those between the cam 59 and the drum 66, said connections including a drum 89 (Figure 5) fixed to the rockshaft 89 and a chain 89" through which power is transmitted from the cam'90 to raise the eveners.

A semi-rotatable transferring table islocated in position to receive the bent blank and transfer the same to the forming instruinentalities which include the usual sectional female dies 100 and the vertically reciprocating male die 101. Said table is mounted on a movable frame best shown by Figure 13, and composed of longitudinal rods or bars 102 and transverse rods or bars 102. For convenience, I will designate the frame by the numeral 102. The frame 102 has a compound movement, viz, a swing movement to ard and from the forming dies, and a vertical reciprocating movement.

The lower end of the frame is connected by a rod 103 (Figures 1 and13) constituting a vertically movable, frame support with rocker arn s 104. fixed to a transverse rock shaft 105, which is journ alled in fixed bearings anl is provided with arocker arm 106 (Figure 1.) having a trundle roll 107 which bears on a cam 108 fixedto a-power driven shaft 109, the cam being continuously rotated. The cam 108 is timed to first positively swing the table carrying frame 102 to the right from the position shown by Figure 1, and then permit an endwise upward movement ofthe frame 102 and the table in unison with the male die 101, so that the table inserts the forward edge of the bent blank in the space between the dies while the. male die is depressed, and then moves upward with the male die when the latter rises to press the blank. The transferring table is shown by Figure 1, and more in detail by Figures 22, 23 and2 t. The

.table is preferably composed of two sections 110 (Figure 22), which are adjustable toward and- .from each other to conform the length of the table to the length of the counter blanks. means being provided for adjusting the sections toward and from each other and for positively securing thorn at different distances apart.

The table sections have arms 112 fixed to a transverse rod 111 (Figure 23), the rod passing through the arms, and being engagged therewith by a key 113 (Figure 23).

ldubs 114 on the arms1l2 of the table sections are slidable on the rod 111 and key 113,

and are adjustably secured to therod by set screws 115 (Figures 23v and 111 to which the transferring table is fixed as described, is adapted toturn with the table in bearings formed on sleeves 116 fixed to the oscillating frarne 102 to perinit the table to occupy the receiving position shown by Figure 24 and the delivering position shown by Figure 23, the swinging frame 102 being inclined when the table is in its receiving position and substantially vertical when the table is in its delivering position. The table is provided with two pairs of gripping jaws which are closed on the forward edges of a bent blank loosely confined by the supporting r'olls the bender rolls 71 and the eveners 87 and positively hold the blank until its body portion is inserted between and formed by the forming dies, the j aws grasping the portion of the blank iroin which the flange i's forined, and releasing the blank before the formation of said flange by the reciprocating wiper hereinafter described. To the table sections are fixed inner gripping jaws 150. (Figures 22 and 22 Pivoted at 151 to the table sections are outer gripping jaws 152 provided with arms 153. Pivoted on studs 154 carried by springa'ctu'ate'd ar'ins 155, are three-armed levers including arins 156 pivoted at 157 to the jaw arnis 153, and oppositely projecting arins 158 to which are pivoted rods 159. The arms 1 55 are fixed to studs 160 (F igur'e 25) journalled in bearings 161 formed on the table sections. )Vith each stud 160 is associated a torsion spring 162 secured at one end to a head 163 hired to the stud,

and at its opposite end at 164 to the bearing 161; The arrangement is such that when the aws are closed on a blank as shown by Figure 22, the springs 162 act to yieldingly hold the outer jaws yieldingly pressed" against the blank, the pivots 157 being at one side or a straight line intersecting the centers of the pivots 151 and 154. When the jaws are open as shown Figure 22 the springs act to hold the outer jaws swung outi'vard, the pivots 157 being at the opposite side of said line.

I will now describe more fully the mecha nisni for operating the transferring table and its jaws. The table-carrying frame 102 is supported as above described by the vertically movable rod or support 103. When the tableis in its receiving position (Figure 24') and when it is first moved to its delivering position (Figure 1), the rod or support 103 is at the lowerend of its vertical movement as shown by Figure 1. When a bent blank has been pressed against the table, the latter beingin its receiving position, and the blank gripped by the jaws, and the supporting and bending rolls and the eveners have beennioved away frorn the operative positions shown by dotted lines in Figure 24, the frame 102 is swung to the right from the position shown by Figure 1 as follows: The frame is connected by links165 (Figure 1) with levers 166 pivoted at 167 to the frame and provided with trundle rolls 168 which contact with cams 169 on the shaft 109. One of the levers 166 is connected by a link 170 with one arm 171 oit a bell crank lever pivoted at 173 to a fixed support. The other arm 172 of the bell crank lever is connected with a chain 174 passing over a drum 175 and provided with a weight 176, which acts to force the levers 166 toward the right from the posi tion shown by Figure 1 and hold the trundle roll 168 against the cam 169, so that the first part of a rotation of the cam permits the frame 102 to swing to the right from the position shown by Figures 1 and 24 to the position shown by Figure 23. When the blank now engaged with the table jaws clears the rolls and eveners, the table is semi-rotated It should be here stated that the table is held in its receiving position by a spring 177 (Figures 2 and 13) e011- nect'ed at its lower end with the frame and at its upper end with a chain 178 fixed to a drum 179 on the shaft 113. The spring n'orinally holds an arni 180 on the shaft 113 against-a stop 181 on the frame, said arm and stop contacting with each other as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 13, when the table is in itsre'ceiving position. To the druin 179 is attached one end of a chain 182 passing under a pulley 183 (F igure 13) and extending to the free end of a lever 184, which is mounted to oscillate on a fixed rod 186 and has airundle roll 187 held by the spring 177 against a cam 188 on the continuously rotating shaft 189. The cain 188 is timed to turn the table through the described connections during the latter part of the swinging movement of the'irame 102 toward the forming dies, so that the table is turned and caused to in'sertone edge of I the bent blank between the formingdies,

while the male die 101 is depressed, as shown by Figure 23. When the male die rises to form the blank body, the arm 104 supporting the frame 102 swings upward so that the frame and table move upward with the male die both stopping 'at' the same time. After the counter body has been formed, the table is returned to its receiving position by a reversal of the described operation. The niovable jaws are opened and closed by the means next described.

' Alever 190 (Figures 2 and 13) is inounted loosely on the rod 186 and has a trundle roll 191 bearing on a cam 192 on theshait 189. A link 193 connects the free end of the lever 190 with one arm of a bell crank lever 194 pivoted at 195. The other arm of the lever 194 is connected by a chain 196 passing over a pulley 197, with a rod 198 which is slidable in guides 199 on one of themembersioe of the table carrying frame,

alternately on two levers 201 and 202 (Figures 22, 23 and 2 1). The lever 201 IS fixed to a rock shaft 203 journalled in brackets 20 1 fixed to the table, and provided with arms 205. The lever 202 is fixed to a rock shaft 206 journalled in said brackets and provided with arms 207'. The arms 205 and 207 are connected with the links 159 above described. When the table is in the receiving position, Figure 24, the head 200 has been raised to the dotted line position and then retracted to the full line position. This movement has caused the lever 201 to close the movable jaws 152 on a bent blank. The jaws remain closed'until the table is in its delivering position, Figure 23, and the counter body has been formed. The head 200 then rises again and opens the movable jaws just before the table starts to return to its receiving position. The jaws remain open until another bent blank is in position to be grasped and are then closed by another upward movement of the head 200. When the blank gripped by the jaws is inserted between the forming dies 100 and 101, said dies are separated as indicated by Figure 23, the blank being held between the dies without touching the same. The dies are operated in the usual manner, the male die being reciprocated vertically and the female die oscillated to cause their cooperation with the male die. The mechanism shown by the drawings for operating the forming dies does not differ essentially from that disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 1,381,126, and therefore does not require extended description.

I have improved the mechanism for reciprocating the wiper which forms the counter flange after the body of the counter has been molded, the improved mechanism being adapted to impart two wiping or flange forming strokes to the wiper while the latter is forming a flange, instead of a single stroke as hertofore, so that the flange is firmly set and is not liable to spring outward.

The wiper is reciprocated in the usual vertical guides 22f) by the improved mechanism next described.

Pivoted at 227 to the frame of the ma chine is a lever 228, one arm of which is connected by a link or connecting rod 229 with the wiper. The other arm is provided with a stud 230 (see Figure 21 and dotted lines in Figure 20) having a turningfit in a socket or bearing in a frame 231 which is vertically reciprocated as presently described, and oscillates the lever through the connection formed by the said stud socket or bearing. Theframe has upper and lower weight 245.

ears 232 and 23s having orifices in alignment with each other forming bearings or guides in which an elongated rod 236 (Fig me 18) is free to slide endwise. (L ne end of the rod is pivoted to a crank arm 237 which is fined to a shaft 238 continuously driven by the power of the machine, and continuously reciprocates the rod 236. The upper ear 282 is provided with lateral ears 239 to which are pivoted clutch arms 2 10 extending downward at opposite sides of the rod and provided with notches 2 11 (Figure 18) in their lower ends adaptedto engage a fixed collar 24-2 on the rod 236 when the rod is in its lowest position shown by Figure 19. To move the clutch arms 210 into and out of engagement with the col-' lar 2&2, I provide said arms with ears 2&3 which are connected by links 244: with a The weight is slidable on a guide rod 216 fixed to a projection 2 17 on the upper frame ear 232. l The tendency of the weight is to hold the clutch arms 2&0 in position to be engaged by the collar 2 12, as shown by Figure 19. When the clutch arms are thus engaged and the rod 236 comniences its upward stroke, the rod acts through the collar 2&2 and the clutch arms to raise the frame 281 and swing the lever 228 in the direction required to move the wiper downward and perform the usual operation of wiping the counter flange by a single stroke. When the rod 236 moves downward, the lever 228 is moved to raise the wiper by a weight 2 18 on the rear arm of the lever. During this movement of the rod, the clutch arms 2 10 are disengaged from the collar 2 12, so that the frame 231 is unclutclied or released from the rod by a stop lever 24-9 (Figures 18 and 20) which is moved into the path of the weight 2 15 by means presently described, and arrests the weight to prevent further downward movement thereof, as indicated by Figure 18, this arrest occurring before the end of the downward stroke of the rod 236. The continuation of the downward stroke causes the clutch arms to swing outward, so that they will not be engaged by thecollar 242 during the next upward stroke of the rod. The stop lever 2419 is fixed to a rock shaft 250 journalled in a fixed bearing 251 and turned to hold the stop arm alternately in and out of the path of the weight 2 15 by means including a weight 252 hung by a chain 253 from an arm 254 fixed to the rock shaft, to hold the stop arm in the path of the weight, and a cam 255 (Figure 18) on the shaft 58 acting through a cam lever 256, a link 257 and an arm 258 fixed to the rock shaft, to hold the stop arm out of the path of the weight. The male forming die 101 and the female forming dies 100 are operated by the usual mechanism, which includes a continuously rotated shaft 259, said mechanism being organized as usual so that one complete rotation of the shaft causes the dies to mold the body 6 (Figure 29) of a counter.

The main driving shaft 259. of the machine is connected with the shafts 238 and 259 by the gearing shown by Figure 1; in cluding a gear 260 in the shaft 259, and a gear 261 on the shaft 238.

The organization of said gearing is such that the shaft 238 rotates four times as fast as. the shaft 259 so that the rod 236 causes the wiper, through the described connections, to make two wiping strokes, while a counter is confined by the forming dies.

The clutch mechanism operated as above described permits the wiper to remain at rest after-a counter has been formed and flanged, until another blank has been positioned between and its body has been formed by the forming dies.

After the wiping operation, the completed counter is removed from the machine by a picker which engages the counter as indicated by Figure 1 1 and ejects it from one side of: the machine.

The picker includes a prong 282 and a plate 263 fixed to a shaft 264 (Figure 12) which is fixed to a boss formed on a sleeve 265 loosely mounted on an arm 266 (Figures 1 and 12), one end of which is fixed in a tubular arm 267 on an upright sleeve 268, adapted to turn on a fixed stud 270. A torsion spring 271 is fixed at one end to a collar on the stud and at its other end to the sleeve 268. The tendency of the spring 271 is to swing the arm 266 and the picker inward. A s pring272 (Figure 1) fixed at one end to the arm 266 and at its other end to the sleeve 265 tends to turn the sleeve on the shaft in the direction required to swing the picker downward to the position shown by Figure 17. Fixed to the upright sleeve 268 is" a sector 273 to which is fixed one end of a chain 271 Figure 1). The other end of the chain is fixed to a lever 27:"). pivoted at 276 to the frame and having a trundle roll 277 which is held by the spring 271 against a cam 278 (Figure 1) on the shaft 259. Loosely mounted on a fixed rod 279 is a roll 280 arranged to bear on an arm 281 on the sleeve 265.

After the wiping operation the cam 278 permits the lever 275 to swing to the right from the position shown by Figure 1. The springs 271 and 272 then act conjointly to swing the picker to the position shown by Figure 17. The movement of the male die 101 to the position shown by Figure 14 and the subsequent depression of said die leaves the counter hanging on the picker. The cam 278 nowfswing's the lever 275 to the left from the position shown b Figure 1, so that the described connections including the chain 274 cause the arm 266 to swing outward as indicated by Figure 12. The arm 281 in moving across the roll 280 as indicated by Figure 12, swings the picker ogftward and causes it to drop the counter o I will now describe in detail the mechanism for operating the ram 25 and the chain impelling hook 22, to cause the ram to press the top blank of a group against the lifter, and to cause the hook to impel the conveyor chains one step after a group of blanks is disposed of and the ram returns to its starting position.

The drum 30 is fixed to a rock shaft 300 journalled in fixed bearings. To the drum is pivoted a pawl 301. Loose on the rock shaft 300 is a worm gear 302, to which is fixed a ratchet 303. Engaged with the worm gear is a worm 30 1 on a short shaft 305 which is provided with a ratchet 306. 307 is a shaft journalled in fixed hearings in alignment with the shaft 305 and pro.- vided with an arm 308 (Figures 3 and 8) to which is pivoted a pawl 309 engaging the ratchet 306. To the shaft 307 are fixed two drums 310 and 311. 312 (Figure 8) is a lever adapted to oscillate vertically on a fixed rod 313, and carrying at its free end an idle roll or drum 31 1. A chain 315 fixed at one end to a stationary rod 3.16 passes over the drum 31 1 and is fixed at its oppo: site end to the drum 310 as shown by dotted lines in Figure 8. To the drum 3.11 is fixed one end of a chain 317 which passes overa loose drum 318 mounted on a fixed supe portand having a Weight 320 at its opposite end. The lever 312 has a trundle roll 321 (Figure 8 bearing on a cam 322 fixed to a power driven shaft 323. The lever is alternately raised and allowed to fall by the cam. Mounted to oscillate vertically on the rod 313 is a lever 32 1 (Figure 8 having a trundle roll 325 located over a cam 3 26 fixed to the shaft 323. The free end of the lever 324 is connected by a link .325 with an arm 326 which is fixed to a rock shaft 327 journalled in fixed bearings. To the rock shaft 327 is secured an arm 328 which is oscillated by the rock shaft. The. hook 22 above described, is pivoted at 23, to the arm 328. The connection between this arm and; the rock shaft is preferably adjustable to permit the adjustment of the. path of the hook lengthwise of the blank carrying chains, so that the hook when at the end of its forward movement may properly engage a chain link. loosely mounted on the rock shaft and is connected by a link 329 (Figure 3). with a stud 330 (Figure 8) on an arm 331 fixed to the rock shaft 327'. The linkis screw threaded and passes loosely through an orifice in the stud and is confined by nuts,- 329? bearing on opposite sides of the stud. The. rock shaft 327 is provided. with an arm 332 To this end the arm 328 isadapted to be engaged by a detent arm 334 fixed to a rock shaft 335 journalled in fixed bearings and provided with a weight 336 normally holding the detent arm 334: in the position shown by Figure 3, a notch in the free end of said arm engaging the arm To the rock shaft 335 is fixed an arm 33!" to which is pivoted notched arm 338. Pivoted on a fixed support 339 (Figure 10) is a weighted lever 340, one arm of which has a trundle roll 341 held by the lever on a cam 342 on a driven shaft 343. The other arm of the lever is adapted to engage the notched end ofthe arm 338. To the rock shaft 300 is fixed an arm. 3% (Figure 10) connected by a link 3&5 with the arm 338.

The operation of the mechanism thus far described is as follows:

Assuming that the lifter 50 is at the lower end of its movement and has engaged a blank, and that the hook 22 is in the full line position shown by Figure 3, the lifter now rises and lifts a blank. The cam 322 raises the lever 312 and causes the drum 31 i to exert an upward pull on the chain 319 and rotate the shaft 307 in the direction re quired to cause the pawl 309 to partly rotate the ratchet 306, shaft 305, worm 30d, and worm gear 302. The rotation of the worm gear is imparted through the pawl 301 and ratchet 303 to the drum 30 in the direction required to cause the drum to raise the ram 25 through the chain 29. The movement thus imparted to the ram is sufficient to raise another blank into position to be engaged by the lifter 50. When the cam 322 releases the lever 312, the latter drops and the pawl 309 is retracted.

Ti" hen lifter 50 is depressed and engages a blank exposed beneath it and before the lifter rises with the engaged blanlnthe cam 322 raises the lever 312 causing the loose drum 31.4.- to exert an upward pull on the chain 319 causing the chain to turn the drum 310 in the direction required to move the pawl 309 backward on the ratchet 306 and at the same time raise the weight 320, thus re moving upward pressurefrom the ram which is held stationary while the lifter is lifting the engaged blank. The ram remains at rest until the lifter descends to its normal lower position. The cam 322 then allows the lever 312 to drop and slackens the chain 319. The weight 320 is now allowed to descend and turn the roc r shaft 307 in the direction required to move the pawl 309 forward and act on the ratchet to turn the worm shaft 305 and worm gear 302 in the direction required to cause a tooth of the ratchet 303 to engage the pawl 301 and turn the drum in the direction requiredto raise the ram 25 sufficiently to press the exposed blank against the lifter 50. This operation continues until the last blank is removed, and causes the turning of the rock shaft 300 until the arm 34st acts through the link 345 to move the notched arm 338 from the position shown by full lines to that shown by dotted lines in Figure 3 and to the position shown by Figure 10, so

that the notched arm is engaged with lever 340 while the latter is at rest. The lever is then moved by the cam 342 in the direction required to force the notched arm 338 downward. This movement of the notched arm turns the rock shaft335 in the direction quired to swing the arms @31 and another arm 33 l fixed to the rock shaft to the right from the positions shown by Figure 3. The arm 43 1- moves a wedge bar 334C in the direction required to force its inclined face against a stud 301 (Figure 3) on the pawl 301 and lift the pawl from the ratchet, so that the ram is released and drops to its starting position ready to support another group of blanks. At the same time the arm 33 i releases the arm 332 so that the rock shaft 327 and its arms are free to move in the direction required to cause the arm 328 and hook 22 to assume the forward position shown by dotted lines in Figure 3, the hook engaging a chain link. This forward movement of the hook is caused bythe depression of the lever 32d permitted at this time by the cam 323, the lever acting through the link 325 on the arm 326. The free end of the arm 332 now rests on a stop 3 on the arm 33%.

raised to the position itoccupies in holding a blank for the action of the bendingand evening devices, and is arrested in this position by a fixed stop 50 (Figure i), the sup porting rolls 70, the bender rolls 71 and the eveners 87 being in their retracted positions. Thesupporting rolls are moved. under the raised blank and then the bender rolls are moved to bend the blank and locate its ends in the path of the eveners, which next descend and even the ends of the bent blank. The presser feet .86 next move forward and press one edge of the blank against the face of the transferring table which is now in the receiving position shown by Figure 24:. The movable gripping aws of the table are then actuated so that the jaws grip the edge of the blank (Figure 22). The bender rolls, the supporting rolls, and the eveners are now retracted from the bent blank to permit onward movement of the latter. The swinging frame 102 then swings forward about half Way to its extreme forward position and is held While the table is given a half rotation and is caused to face the forming dies. The forward movement of the frame 102 is then completed, causing the insertion of the body portion of the blank into the cavity between the dies, the male die being new lowered and the female dies retracted. The forming dies then act as usual to form the body of the counter. The gripping jaws are then opened, the frame 102 swings away from the forming dies, and the table is returned to its starting position.

I claim:

1. A counter molding machine comprising in combination, conveying chains adapted to hold a plurality of groups of blanks in predetermined positions, mechanism for moving the chains step by step, a blank lifter adapted to engage the top blank of one of the groups, mechanism for reciprocating the lifter, a ram adapted to force the top blank against the lifter, mechanism for intermittently raising the ram, and blank support ing and bending mechanism adapted to bend a lifted blank and detach it from the lifter.

2. A counter molding machine comprising in combination, conveying chains adapted to hold a plurality of groups of blanks in predetermined positions, mechanism for moving the chains step by step, a blank hfter adapted to engage the top blank of one of the groups, mechanism for reciprocating the lifter, a ram adapted to force the top blank against the lifter, mechanism for intermittently raising the ram, a pair of supporting rolls movable to position under a lifted blank, a pair of bending rolls adapted to bend the lifted blank and detach it from the lifter, and mechanism for projecting and retracting said rolls.

3. A counter molding machine comprising in combination, conveying chains adapts ed to hold a plurality of groups of blanks in predetermined positions, mechanism for moving the chains step by step, a blank lifter adapted to engage the top blank of one of the groups, mechanism for reciprocating the lifter, a ram adapted to force the top blank against the lifter, mechanism for intermittently raising the ram, a pair of supporting rolls movable to position under a lifted blank, a pair of bending rolls adapted to bend the lifted blank and detach it from the lifter, an evener adapted to even the ends of the bent blank, and mechanism for projecting and retracting said rol s and evener,

i. A counter molding machine comprising in combination, a blank lifter movable in a predetermined path, means for holding a group of blanks in the path of the lifter, means for reciprocating the lifter to cause it to engage and lift the top blank of the group, a rain movable in a path aligned With the path of the lifter, and ram-operating mechanism including means for moving the 'am step by step to press the top blank against the lifter until all the blanks of the group have been lifted, and means for causing the return of the ram to a starting position after the lifting of the last blank of the group.

5. A counter molding machine as specified by claim l, said lifter reciprocating means being organized to permit the lifter to yield when it contacts with the top blank and thereby prevent injurious strain on the lifter and the reciprocating means.

6. A counter i'nolding machine comprising in combination, a blank lifter movable in a predetermined path, an endless conveyor adapteu to move a plurality of groups of blanks and hold one group in the path of the lifter, means for reciprocating the lifter to cause it to engage and lift the top blank of the group, a ram movable in a path aligned with the path of the lifter, and ram and conveyor-operating mechanism including means for moving the ram step by step to press the top blank against the lifter until all the blanks of the group have been lifted, means for causing the return of the ram to a starting position after the lifting of the last blank of the group, and means for moving the conveyor, after the return movement of the ram, to interpose another group between the lifter and the ram.

7. In a counter molding machine, blankconveying chains having blank-engaging fingers, means supporting and connecting said chains, a chain-actuating hook separably engageable With a link of one of the chains, and mechanism for reciprocating said hook to cause astep-by-step movement of the chains, said mechanism including means for longitudinally adjusting the hook to insure its proper registration with a chain link.

In testimony whereof I have afiined my signatpre.

ALBERT F. JONES. 

